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+ servings

The Best Ever Mexican Birria

A rich and flavorful Mexican stew made with tender meat, spices, and a savory broth, perfect for tacos or served with rice.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

Meat
  • 2 lbs beef chuck roast cut into chunks
  • 1 lb lamb shank optional
Spices
  • 3 each dried guajillo chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 2 each dried ancho chiles stemmed and seeded
  • 1 tbsp cumin
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • 1 tbsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp salt to taste
Vegetables
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 each bay leaves
  • 4 cups beef broth
Garnish
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 1 each lime cut into wedges
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1 cup corn tortillas for serving

Method
 

Prepare the Chiles
  1. In a dry skillet, toast the guajillo and ancho chiles over medium heat until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and soak in hot water for 15 minutes.
Make the Sauce
  1. Blend the soaked chiles with garlic, cumin, oregano, black pepper, and a little broth until smooth.
Cook the Meat
  1. In a large pot, heat some oil over medium-high heat. Brown the beef and lamb on all sides, then remove from pot.
  2. Add the chopped onion to the pot and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
  3. Return the meat to the pot, add the blended sauce, bay leaves, and remaining broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 2 hours, or until the meat is tender.
Serve
  1. Remove the meat, shred it, and return it to the pot. Serve hot with chopped cilantro, diced onion, lime wedges, and corn tortillas.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 35gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 5gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 4mg

Notes

Birria can also be served as a soup or used as a filling for tacos. Adjust the spice level by adding more or fewer chiles.

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